Jet Set Nightclub death toll rises to 225: More famous victims identified

After the Jet Set nightclub roof collapse that led to the demise of Dominican merengue singer, Rubby Pérez, more details have unfolded recently. The tragedy that happened on April 8, 2025, at around midnight, has claimed 225 lives so far. The number of injured people rescued from the rubble was 189. At the moment, more than 200 people are recorded as injured. FIve of the individuals are in critical condition, and 15 are still in the hospital.

Rubby Pérez was among the famous individuals present at the Jet Set nightclub when the roof collapsed. In fact, Pérez was in the middle of his performance when the tragedy happened. Other prominent individuals who were at the club included a fashion designer, politicians, and athletes.

Among the identified victims whose bodies were found is Octavio Eduardo Dotel Diaz, a Dominican professional baseball player. Another Major League Baseball player who passed away at the nightclub is Dominican professional player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera. The governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi, Nelsy Cruz, also passed away in the roof collapse.

The search for survivors at the Jet Set nightclub has stopped

The collapse of the Jet Set nightclub happened on April 8, 2025. It has been five days (at the time of writing) since the tragedy struck, and Dominican emergency authorities have tried everything they can to locate survivors who are still trapped under the rubble. According to CNN, the authorities stated:

"All reasonable possibilities of finding more survivors” had been exhausted.

The outlet added that emergency authorities were now focused on finding the bodies of the victims still trapped underneath the debris.

Members of the emergency services have also shared how helpless they felt when they could not save those who called for help. Daniel Heredia, who is a member of the Dominican Civil Protection Service, said:

"You hear people who are trapped, screaming for help – it’s a bit difficult."

After the search for survivors was called off, Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Dominican Emergency Operations Center, said:

"Today, I conclude the hardest job I’ve ever done in my 20 years of service."

While the search for survivors has ended, the investigation is still going on. The owner of the Jet Set nightclub, Antonio Espaillat, has given his word that he will work with the authorities to get to the root of the cause. Espaillat said in a statement:

"From the very beginning, we have been collaborating fully and transparently with the authorities... We remain in constant communication with (emergency services), as search and rescue efforts continue with emergency teams, volunteers, and personnel from more than 22 institutions."

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